Roche halts development of muscle-preserving obesity drug and returns program to Chugai

Roche announced it is ending work on the experimental muscle-building compound known as GYM329, which had been tested together with a GLP-1 based anti-obesity injection.

The decision stops the ongoing trial that aimed to assess whether the drug could preserve lean muscle mass in patients receiving the obesity treatment. Roche will hand the development back to its partner Chugai.

No further details on the reasons for the discontinuation were provided, and the company did not indicate any plans to pursue the candidate elsewhere.